Princess Anne, The Princess Royal unveils a new portrait of her mother, Queen Elizabeth II, by artist Darren Baker, at Church House Westminster following a service of thanksgiving honouring Britain’s war dead and marking the 90th Anniversary of the Royal British Legion, at Westminster Abbey September 20, 2011 in London, England.

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The reason behind Philip’s so-called gaffes? He’s too German.

Could this really be a possibility? According to a recent BBC report, the German translation of a Paddington Bear book reveals extremely different cultural norms. There is a distinct divide between what Germans consider frank and what the British consider rude.

In A Bear Called Paddington, an exchange of small talk occurs in the English original: “‘Hello Mrs. Bird,’ said Judy. ‘It’s nice to see you again. How’s the rheumatism?’ ‘Worse than it’s ever been’ began Mrs. Bird.”

What the British see in this passage is polite small talk; Germans see it as deceitful and/or unnecessary. The passage was cut from the German version of the book altogether.

The German language doesn’t even have an expression for “small talk”, according to Professor Juliane House, of the University of Hamburg. The professor studied people in control groups engaging in social situations and found that Germans were much less likely to talk about the weather or ask after someone’s health. They were far more direct in their questions, something that the British would perhaps consider rude or blunt.

On the British side, Professor Derek Bousfield, the head of linguistics at the University of Central Lancashire, says that “German directness and British indirectness is the source of much miscommunication”.

Is one culture more rude than the other? No, just different.

So the Duke of Edinburgh – who has turned many a hair white with some of his remarks – may simply have an abundance of Germanic bluntness. He is the polar opposite of Her Majesty.

Right behind him is his daughter, HRH Princess Anne. The Princess Royal’s abrupt comments and insistence on working formality certainly keeps things clear. Tony Blair’s wife is said to have asked Anne to call her “Cherie”. Anne swiftly replied: ‘Actually, let’s not go that way. Let’s stick to Mrs. Blair, shall we?’

At least you’ll always know where you stand.

Anne, The Princess Royal, is still the same straight-talking princess she has always been, even at age 60.

The second child of the Queen and Prince Philip was born August 15th, 1950. Anne’s claim to fame is her simple, no-nonsense approach to life and her hard work. Like her father, she has a disdainful approach to the press and shuns the limelight as often as possible. Anne simply dives in to her job, whether it’s traveling to Africa for her children’s charity or supporting her Princess Royal Trust for Carers.

The Queen’s strong sense of duty and thrift are also a large part of Anne’s makeup. Like the Queen, Anne never fussed about gowns or jewels, except when she was required to attend a formal royal event. Her true place was out in the country riding horses, attending to her dogs, or working on her schedule of royal duties.

When she married Captain Mark Phillips, a fellow equestrian, their children were not given titles. Anne’s reasoning was simple: it would keep them out of the limelight. As a princess, it was inevitable that Anne had to deal with the spotlight growing up, but she made sure that her children Peter and Zara would not feel any public pressure.

Anne’s natural grace on a horse has been passed on to her daughter Zara, who is currently training to join Britain’s Olympic team. Her son Peter and his wife are expecting their first child – Anne’s first grandchild and the Queen’s first great-grandchild – in December.

The princess’ family is happy, strong, and as down-to-earth as ever. I wish Her Royal Highness all the best for her birthday.

Recommended:

BBC Sport – The Princess Royal at 60
Anne at 60 – More Regal Than Mum?
Princess Anne Not Slowing Down

Fashion designer Denise L’Estrange-Corbet took the opportunity to comment on the Princess’ fashion sense during Her Royal Highness’ low-profile visit to New Zealand. Anne was a guest of honor at an event held for New Zealand’s branch of Save the Children, of which the princess has been patron of for over 35 years.

The New Zealand Herald heaped catty scorn on Anne’s outfit, while the paper’s diarist also took a shot at her height! Then Ms. L’Estrange-Corbet delivered the coup de grace:

“She was as boring as ******* bat ****, is what she was,” she reportedly told the newspaper. “The world’s hairdressers at your beck and call and your hair looks like a cottage loaf! And personality minus! No wonder Diana left them all for dead”.

Not spending thousands of pounds a day on an outfit and her hair is probably what endears most of us to Princess Anne. Her straightforward approach and get-down-to-business style is what makes the princess all the more respectable.

My respect for The New Zealand Herald has dropped considerably. Grousing about someone’s hair and height is the epitome of adolescence.

Telegraph – NZ Designer Calls Princess Anne ‘Boring’

Funny that I just mentioned Peter in this previous post as a candidate to represent monarchy in Canada. Now he’s marrying a Canadian. :) Wonderful news!

All of Europe’s major royals are in attendance, along with our own Princess Anne, the Princess Royal with her brother Prince Edward.